NOTES: Daniel Murphy did not start in the Philly series. Says a lot. … John Maine said his shoulder is still hurting and could have some tests if there are problems in his next start Saturday vs. Yankees. Even so, Jerry Manuel said he’s not concerned. We’ve heard this before. … Carlos Delgado said he his feeling strong and believes he will return in time.

Coming to you from my local library as the cable – and with it, Internet access – are out. They’ve been out for most of the afternoon. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to Citi Field tonight. So, I wanted to set up the Chat Room and hope I’ll be online shortly.

Cole Hamels goes tonight for the Phillies, and you know he’ll hear it from the crowd for his “chokers” comments about the Mets. I heard the original interview and much has been made out of nothing. That’s what the tabs are for.

Truth is, whatever label you want to put on it, the Mets kicked away the division the last two years. And, until the Mets prove they can win the Phillies will believe they can take the Mets. Very simple actually.

Last night was a tremendous game and we can only hope for something close tonight. Mike Pelfrey keeps showing breakout signs, but there’s always been a step back. Beating the Phillies will help everybody’s psyche.

erry Manuel will use the same lineup tonight as last night, with Luis Castillo leading off, then Alex Cora, Carlos Beltran, Gary Sheffield, David Wright, Fernando Tatis, Ryan Church, Omir Santos and Mike Pelfrey.

Great pitching match-up tonight – should they play – between lefties Johan Santana (7-2, 2.00) and J.A. Happ (4-0, 2.48 ERA). Santana gave up three runs in six innings in his last start, a loss at Pittsburgh. Santana beat the Phillies, May 6, in a sterling 10-strikeout performance in seven innings.

Not surprisingly, Daniel Murphy is not in the starting line-up against Happ, replaced by Fernando Tatis.

Tonight starts the Mets’ most difficult stretch of the season with two series each against Philadelphia and the Yankees, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Retiring Phillies general manager Pat Gillick told Bill Madden of The New York Daily News at the World Series his team’s hatred for the Mets, coupled with the disdain other teams in the NL East had for the Mets, acted as inspiration. Teams just didn’t like the celebrations and their swagger, perhaps sense of entitlement, they’ve had since 2006.

Said Gillick: “If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year, it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets’ guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn’t forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years (beating the Mets two out of the three in each of the last series of the season to prevent them from making the postseason). Washington doesn’t like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets.”

Both Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado took the celebrations outside the dugout, but each said they weren’t hurting anybody. In the end, they may have just been hurting themselves.

Hey, it’s not a shot at Reyes, but when an executive of your bitterest rival says the perception of your team is poor, you’d better listen. If the Mets are listening, they should realize Gillick is doing them a favor.